Pipe wrench



Feb. 6, 1923. 1,444,583.. A. G. CHERNE.

PIPE WRENCH. 'FILED 050.31.1921.

ANTHONY C CHERIV.

ii Lilia (i r led a at PIPE "WRENCH.

Application filed December 3 T 0 all to 7mm it may concern Be it known that I, ANTHONY G. .CI-IERNE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buhl, in the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and and useful Improvements in Pipe Wrenches, of which the following is a speci fication.

My invention relates to pipe wrenches, and an object is to provide a device of this character having an adjustable jaw member consisting of a plurality of chain links having teeth in combination with means for holding the jaw member in curved position around a pipe with the teeth in engagement therewith. Another object is to provide a device of this character having a hollow handle member combined with means for retracting the chain into the handle member when released from the pipe which has been wrenched.

The full objects and advantages of my invention will appear in connection with the detailed description, and the novel features embodied in my inventive idea will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate one form in which my invention may be embodied, Fig. 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section with the wrench in engagement with a pipe. 2 is a side elevational view of the wrench in disengaged position. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the wrench in disengaged condition. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the wrench in engagement with a pipe. Fig. 5 is a view in cross section on the line 5+5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a view in cross section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

As shown in the drawings, 1 provide a hollow handle member 10, the hand engageableend of which is provided with a plug 12 held in position by a pin it. The opening through the hollow handle is shown square in cross section. This opening receives a coiled spring 16, one end of which is attached to a lug 18 extending from the plug 12 and the other end of which is attached to the ing a number of links 22provided with jaw teeth 24. The link 20 idprovided with a lug 26 which is adapted to slide in a longitudinal groove 28 within the handle member 10, this roove extending along part way toward tne end of the handle whereby inner link 20 of a chain hav--' 1, 1.921. Serial No. 526,115.

the extent of movement of the chain in the handle is restrained within proper limits. The jaw end of the handle member is flared to provide two branches 30 and 32 from which reinforcing ribs 34 and 86 extend toward the hand engageable portion of the handle member. The flaring branch 3() permits the chain to assume the desired curved position for passing around a pipe P and the flaring branch 32 serves to hold a tooth member 38 .which constitutes a fixed jaw. The outer link l0 of the chain is provided with a cross pin 42 which when the chain is pulled out of the handle and passed around a pipe is adapted to be engaged back of two spaced shoulders 44 and d6 with which the branch 32 is provided.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be understood in connection with the foregoing description. The flexibility of the chain permits it to adapt itself to pipes of different sizes so as to conform in general to the curvature of the pipe.

he pipe is, therefore, engaged by a large number of teeth carried by the jaw in addition to being engaged by teeth on the fixed jaw. The marring effect on the pipe caused by the bite of the teeth when the handle member is turned, is reduced to a minimum. When the wrench is not in use, the pin 42 is disengaged from the shoulders 4:4 and 46 and the tension of the spring 16 causes the chain to be retracted into the hollow handle as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The spring, therefore, has a two-fold function, since it also prevents the chain from being pulled out too far while permitting suflicient movement for encircling pipes of different sizes. In the operation of the wrench, when the handle is forced upwardly from the position as shown in Fig. 1, the links adjacent the branch 30 are held against the same and the teeth of these links are caused to bite into the pipe.

I claim:

1. A pipe wrench comprising a hollow handle member, a coiled spring within said handle member attached thereto at the outer end thereof, a chain having links provided with teeth and attached to the inner end of said spring, the inner end of said handle member having two branches, one of which serves to guide said chain as it passes around the pipe, a fixed jaw having teeth and carried by the other of said. branches, spaced shoulders on said last mentioned branch,

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and a cross pin carried by the outer end of said chain and adapted to be engaged with said shoulders.

2. A pipe Wrench comprising a hollow handle member, a coiled spring Within said handle member attached thereto at the outer end thereof, a chain having links provided With teeth andattached to the inner end of said spring, a lug on one of said links adapted to slide inv a longitudinal groove contained in the inner Wall of said handle member which terminates short of the inner end of the latter, the inner end of said handle member having two branc es,

one of Which serves to guidesaid chain as p it passes around the pipe, a fixed jaw having teeth and carried by the other of said branches, and means associated with the outer end of said chain for holding the latter engagedaround a pipe.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature. I

ANTHONY G. onnnnn, 

